Looking back at 2015 – The Hits and Misses

Yet another year is on its last legs; calendars are waiting to be pulled off the walls and replaced with new ones. The air is merry; spirit of festivity has gripped the social media. Google has officially adopted a doodle to bid adieu to 2015 and usher in 2016.

While I belong to that old school of thought which hardly hopes for things to magically change at the stroke of midnight hour, it is not easy to let go of the excitement and fun that the world has soaked itself in. So at the cost of sounding like the herd, this post recapitulating the year gone by is sort of mandatory for any blogger.

When I think of 2015, the first thought that immediately crosses my mind – SHELDON LOST HIS VIRGINITY! Hell yeah! Those who belong to #TeamShamy would know what a BIG deal this is. In fact, this year had been a great one for someone who loves TV. From American sitcoms to Bengali reality TV, there were shows galore to keep you hooked!

Zee Bangla clearly trumped all its rivals by conceptualising a show that had never been tried on television – A singing competition where classical and Bangla folk got equal importance as film music! Unthinkable… And the popularity of the show Sa Re Ga Ma Pa only goes on to show if there is any shred of cultural heritage left in the world, it is in Bengal. Or else why would a young Keertan singer become a household name or a Baul couple from a hamlet in rural Bengal be accorded rockstar status?

As I said, Sheldon-Amy “coitus” was the shocker of the year while Priyanka Chopra made her “Hollywood” debut with Quantico and has taken the world by storm. Although the show looks inspired from Homeland, the episodes have been sensational so far and promise to made 2016 a riveting year! On the contrary, House of Cards proved to be a dud in its third season (probably building ground for the grand fourth season?) while Scandal has lost its charm completely. The saving grace – Harvey continues to entice us with his suave charm in Suits.

And when we talk of the small screen, how can the big silver screen be far away… 2015 has been a movie buff’s delight. It began on a thrilling note with Bengal’s new sleuth Shabor and ended in style with the classic Byomkesh in Benaras. Bengali cine goers were treated to some amazing films during Pujo – Rajkahini, Sudhu Tomari Jonyo and Katmundu added to the festive glitter. It was also the year when a Bengali film completed 200 days run at the theatres; Belaseshe made us all proud. 2015 was also the year of Asha Jaowar Majhe, Chhotoder Chhobi and Nirbashito – winning laurels for Bengal across the globe.

The year also took us back to our childhood with Jurassic World and Star Wars. In fact the year was particularly great for children with fun movies like Inside Out, Pixels, Good Dinosaur, Home and Night at the Museum 3. I am yet to recover from the astounding performance of Robert De Niro in The Intern and the best comedy-thriller of the year – The Man From Uncle. This was also the year of triumph of mankind as we colonised a new plant in The Martian and celebrated integrity and honesty in The Bridge of Spies.

In India too several films reinforced our faith in good cinema. Titli, Piku, Dum Lagake Haisha, Masaan and Dil Dhadakne Do stood out in the mad crowd of bad films as breath of fresh air. It was a year of historic blunders too; Bajirao Mastani and Bahubali are examples in this regard. Several good attempts were made at the box office as usual – Talvar, Angry Indian Goddesses, Shamitabh and Drishyam were honest films with their hearts in the right place but left us wanting for more.

Then there was politics. While the society at large is on a downward spiral towards a deep abyss bereft of morality or integrity, some encouraging signs keep us hopeful for our democracy. In successive elections, the facist BJP has been shown the door by people – the biggest jolt in Bihar. Across the country, people of eminence have spoken out against rising majoritarianism in the country. Bengal gave a thumping mandate in favour of the ruling Trinamool Congress in municipal polls; people gave a fitting reply to the daily dose of canards spread by the principal Opposition party in the State – a private media house.

All in all, 2015 kept our hopes alive for a better future. Hope 2016 will be a glorious year for all. Happy New Year!